Christmas Gorilla Group

Christmas gorilla group is a newly opened gorilla family worth exploring on a gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Explore the Christmas gorilla family, its composition (size), region, permits, and everything about this group.

Everything About the Christmas Gorilla Group in Nkuringo Sector

Location (sector)

The Christmas gorilla family group is a habituated gorilla group in the Nkuringo sector, the Southern gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi National Park. The Nkuringo sector is lying in the Southern end of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest together with the Rushaga region, Southwestern Uganda.

Size (composition) & structure of Christmas gorilla family

The Christmas gorilla family is currently comprised of 9 members, but 6 are often spotted as they freely roam around. The group features a dominant silverback gorilla called Christmas, 1 blackback, 1 baby, and 3 females.

This mountain gorilla group is among the 3 habituated gorilla families in Nkuringo, one of the lovely regions for primate adventure seekers to experience the best mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda.

The group takes its name from the Christmas silverback its leader in the family structure. If you plan to visit Uganda this Christmas season, it is such an interesting group to explore on a gorilla tour in Bwindi National Park.

Gorilla permits for Christmas gorilla group.

A valid gorilla group is essential for you to be allowed to explore the Christmas gorilla family group.

A single gorilla permit costs USD 800 per person for foreign nonresidents in need to visit the Christmas gorilla family, USD 700 for foreign residents, and the Rest of Africa permits cost USD 500 per visitor.

Ugandans and other East African citizens with plans to visit the Christmas family group in the Nkuringo sector in Bwindi pay UGX 300,000 per visitor.

How to book a permit for Christmas gorilla trekking

A valid gorilla permit for a Christmas group can be booked with ease through a reliable tour operator. Book a gorilla permit with Maranatha Tours and Travel. Contact us at info@adventureugandasafaris.com. Book a gorilla permit and tour early, do not wait till the last minute considering the limited number of gorilla permits.

When to travel for gorilla trekking

Visits to explore the Christmas gorilla family can be done at any time of the year. However, the peak dry months are the most favorable months for you to enjoy an undisrupted gorilla trek with the Christmas family.

The longest dry season starts from June, July, August, to September, and then the shortest dry months occur from December, January, to February.

Where to stay

The available accommodation in and around the Nkuringo region to consider for overnight stays before or after trekking Christmas group range from budget to luxury.

They include Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.

How to get to the Nkuringo sector to explore the Christmas gorilla group

Christmas gorilla family group is located in the Nkuringo sector, a gorilla trekking region in the Southern part of Bwindi National Park. Getting to Nkuringo to track the Christmas group requires driving from Kampala/Entebbe through Masaka-Mbarara –Kabale-Kisoro, about 9-10 hours.

Or you can depart from Kigali city via Chanika to Kisoro-Nkuringo to check in your lodge as you prepare for adventure the following day.

Connecting from Kigali to Nkuringo takes about 3 to 4 hours using a 4×4 safari vehicle. You can also cut down on the hours by taking a flight from Entebbe Airport up to Kisoro airstrip where you can be picked up and transferred to Nkuringo.

Additional gorilla family groups to visit in Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija

Other groups to visit in Nkuringo besides the Christmas group include the Bushaho gorilla family and the Nkuringo group.

Ruhija gorilla family groups include the Oruzogo family, Mukiza group, Kyaguriro group, and Bitukura group.

Rushaga sector groups include the Nshongi gorilla family, the Mucunguzi group, Bikingi, Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye, Mishaya, Kutu, and Rwigyi.

Buhoma sector’s gorilla groups include the Katwe group, Habinyanja, Rushegura group, Muyambi, and Mubare.

What to pack for a gorilla safari to explore Christmas group

Essentials to pack for your gorilla safari in the Nkuringo region include long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, gardening gloves, a good camera with no flashlight, a raincoat or jacket, and waterproof hiking boots.

Additional items to carry for your gorilla trekking tour include a valid gorilla permit, energy-giving snacks, a daypack, long pants, a pair of socks, bottled drinking water, and more.

What is the Christmas gorilla trek like in Nkuringo?

A gorilla trek to explore the Christmas gorilla family group starts with a briefing from the Nkuringo sector led by an experienced park official.

The briefing involves providing visitors insight into gorilla trekking regulations, allocation of gorilla families, and park ranger guides. At 8:00 am, you can start the trek through the Nkuringo region in search of the Christmas gorilla family.

The normal trek with the Christmas group can last for 2-6 hours depending on the visitors’ walking speed or location of the group.

On locating a a gorilla group in the wild, you have a maximum of an hour to take pictures and observe how they behave.

After the encounter with the Christmas group, expect to walk back and a gorilla trekking certificate will be given to you.

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